Sammy Gyamfi secures major legal victory as Court of Appeal overturns obnoxious NAPO defamation judgment | Discuss Ghana

In a massive, high-stakes judicial turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, the Court of Appeal has officially overturned the GH¢500,000 High Court defamation judgment against the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi. The appellate court set aside the lower court’s 2022 decision in the lawsuit brought by the NPP's Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), bringing a dramatic end to a fierce, seven-year legal and political battle.

How the tables turned at the Court of Appeal

The appellate court’s ruling completely dismantled the previous judgment, which many within Sammy Gyamfi's legal team and political camp had long criticized as a disproportionate and "obnoxious" attempt to muzzle free speech:

Overturning the Fine: The Court of Appeal set aside the staggering GH¢500,000 in damages and GH¢50,000 in costs that the High Court had ordered Gyamfi to pay.

Validation of Political Fair Comment: The appellate judges agreed with Gyamfi's defense team, led by Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, ruling that his 2019 press conference statements fell under protected political speech and fair comment rather than malicious, actionable defamation.

The "Errand Boy" Argument: The court noted that Gyamfi’s references to an alleged relationship between NAPO and a kidnapping suspect were based on prevailing media reports at the time, meaning the lower court had erred in disregarding the testimonies of defense witnesses.

The Defamation Case Timeline

Date / Year	Judicial Stage	Action / Case Outcome
June 2019	Lawsuit Filed	Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh sues Sammy Gyamfi for GH¢1 million over kidnapping-related press statements.
October 2022	High Court Verdict	Gyamfi is found guilty of defamation; ordered to pay GH¢500,000 in damages and GH¢50,000 in costs.
May 2024	Court of Appeal (Interlocutory)	Appellate court refuses a stay of execution, temporarily ordering Gyamfi to pay the fine upfront.
October 2024	Supreme Court Ruling	The apex court unanimously grants Gyamfi special leave to appeal the immediate payment, freezing the GH¢500k payout.
July 2026	Court of Appeal (Substantive)	Substantive Appeal Won. The Court of Appeal throws out the 2022 High Court judgment entirely, clearing Sammy Gyamfi.